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Aurora mayor sues local bloggers

Defamation suit seeks $6 million for postings it claims subjected Phyllis Morris to ridicule and contempt.

By Gail SwainsonUrban Affairs Reporter

Wed., Oct. 20, 2010

Aurora Mayor Phyllis Morris is suing a popular local web forum, several anonymous bloggers and three citizens for $6 million for alleged defamation.

The suit, which names three anonymous writers dubbed auroracitizen.ca, For a Fistful of Dollars, and For a Few Dollars More — along with web host Automattic Inc., Richard Johnson Bill Hogg and Elizabeth Bishenden — is just the latest shot across the bow in a troubled term for Morris. The past few years have brought lawsuits, the controversial firing of the town’s integrity commissioner and a badly divided council.

One of the anonymous defendants “suggested that the plaintiff Phyllis Morris should be hanged with her own mayoral chains,” states the six-page notice of action. “As a result of the postings, the plaintiff has been subjected to ridicule, hatred and contempt and suffered damage to her reputation.”

The six-page notice of action, filed on behalf of Morris “in her capacity of mayor” — meaning it’s likely taxpayers will cover her legal fees — also seeks an injunction to halt any more “defamatory publishing” on the lively blog site Aurora Citizen.

The suit alleges that between Aug. 24 and Oct. 2, the defendants “maliciously” published false and defamatory statements written by the anonymous defendants.

It further claims that Johnson, Hogg and Bishenden, as purported moderators of the blog site, “authorized and encouraged the publication of the defamatory postings and are responsible for their contents.”

Morris could not be reached for comment. Johnson — who was served with the notice on Thanksgiving day, just as he was sitting down to a turkey dinner with his family — hotly denies ever being the blog’s moderator and said the suit is using public money to muzzle Morris’s political opponents, right before an election.

“It’s outrageous. She is doing this to bankrupt my family,” Johnson said. “Anyway, everyone knows that a government cannot sue its residents for defamation.”

Lawyer Howard Winkler, who is acting for Morris, said a motion will be brought in court Friday asking the court to order the web server to reveal any information that would identify bloggers John Doe, Jane Doe and James Doe.

Morris’ suit is just the latest involving the badly fractured town council, which is split between Morris supporters and those of Councillor Evelyn Buck, who has been the subject of several ethics complaints from some of her council colleagues over her outspoken views.

Buck has sued Morris and five of her council supporters for $5.25 million, alleging abuse of power, misuse of public funds and defamation, after a formal complaint was filed against her over comments made on Buck’s own blog, titled Our Town and its Business.

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